A Stitching Bee: Needlework & Other Obsessions

New Freebie posted ~ True Blue: Forget Me Not

2011-12-25T21:14:00.000-05:00

Go to

http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com

Whoa! I haven't been here in a while!

2011-12-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

Hi Stitchers!

I devote most of my blogging time to my Wordpress blog: http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com ... Embroiderbee's Primary Hive,
but I'd like to pick this blog up again and post some of my patterns here as well.

I love the Box.net widget for posting my patterns, but don't know if it will work here on blogger. I'll have to spend some time exploring. So stay tuned!

Remy

New Free Chart: American Primitive ~ Octagon Flowers

2011-02-12T16:33:00.002-05:00

Am. Primitive ~ Octagon Flowers

http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com

American Primitive is a free chart for your personal, non-commercial use only. You can download the PDFs for it at the above address. They are located in the flash-widget on the right hand side of the blog.

Happy Stitching!

Remy

New Chart Available

2010-12-29T09:46:00.001-05:00

I've just posted a new chart, a Valentine Band Sampler, at my primary hive.

http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com

http://www.embroiderbee.wordpress.com

2009-08-06T15:52:00.003-04:00

Just a quick note to direct you to my other blog, http://www.embroiderbee.wordpress.com

There are free sampler patterns there which you might enjoy.

Happy Stitching,
Remy

Emma, Nigella, Peanut, Sunny

2009-06-12T17:26:00.006-04:00

Did you ever get to borrow something that you didn't want to give back? I'm totally in love with DS's camera. It's waaaay too much fun to take good pictures!

Em-Em, Niggy, Wee-wee and Francine are not the most cooperative subjects, but I still managed to get some great shots. The big couch by the window is a hot spot in their time-share rotation, so I sat there and pretended that I wasn't interested in photographing anyone.

New Design

2009-06-10T13:22:00.004-04:00

Dear Readers,

I've just posted a new, free design on my other blog, http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com/
It's available in the shared files widget on the right hand side of the blog.

It's called Procrastinate and has 6 colors and one specialty stitch. It's under copyright, but is free for your personal use.

Happy stitching!
Remy

http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com/

2009-06-02T13:05:00.003-04:00

I've been spending as much time as possible in our flower garden. Our DS loaned me his camera and I've been enjoying taking some close-up flower pictures. My camera just can't do what his does with close-ups!

I've also figured out how to post my free patterns in PDF format on my blog ... my other blog (see above) . I really like the look of the box.net presentation on my WordPress blog. All three of my freebies are available there. All I had to do to make it work was to change the Theme I was using. Why the Tech people didn't suggest that is beyond me, but they didn't. It would have saved me hours of frustration.

I still can't make the darn thing work here.

Remy

2009 ~ A Sampler of Stitches

2009-05-23T12:25:00.003-04:00

Amazing!! I tried to add the Stitch Sampler again this morning, and it worked!! Especially since I entered the same user name and password that didn't work yesterday.

I'll try adding Strawberies/Spring Flowers to WordPress and see what happens there. Curiouser and curiouser!

It's like my car ... I don't really have to understand it, it just has to work.

Strawberries and Spring Flowers Sampler

2009-05-21T18:45:00.005-04:00

Dear Readers,

I've added a small black box to share my free designs. As you know, I'm definitely NOT a computer genius ... snicker ... I was trying to add this little sampler to my other blog's green share box, and I'm not sure exactly how I did it, but now I have two share boxes, one on each blog. I couldn't add Strawberries to my WordPress share box, and I tried for hours today. When their Tech Support responds to my email, I may be able to figure out how to add both samplers to both blogs.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy stitching my designs, and respect the usual copyright restrictions.

Remy

1st Day of Spring

2009-03-20T18:44:00.006-04:00

Glorious day! The light was wonderful and the air was cool. It was the kind of day that makes me sure wonderful things are imminent. The kind of day when the wind suggests the Word returning from some mysterious mission, fulfilled. A day of biblical proportions!

Last night, however, I thought I was going to lose my mind. I was happily stitching away on Oak Nut when I started to think that I was off in my count. Nooooooooo!!! I kept looking at the design, and it looked like the count was off to me. After counting the 100 stitches four times I realized that I was spot on, my counting was correct. Whew! It was an optical illusion and time to put the needlework away! This weekend I should have some pictures.

Today I decided to purchase some black Cashel from my LNS's scrap basket, to stitch my little January Quaker. I was not surprised that it had gone up in price, but it did start me thinking that I should buy a yard or two of linen online soon, while it's still at least somewhat affordable. It's not going to be getting any cheaper. Last summer I purchased a yard of Vikki Clayton's linen which has served me well, and I'm almost at the end of it.

Spring Cleaning, Stitching, Sciatica, Co-op and a new design idea

2009-03-11T21:00:00.009-04:00

Dear Reader,

Looong day! It's barely nine pm and I'm ready to head to bed. Was up early for Co-op and got the job I'd requested, the Re-pack station where I could sit down to work. Unloading cartons off the truck would have done me in for the rest of the day. Maybe next month I'll be up for it. Sciatica is a real pain ;)

My friend and fellow Co-op member, Jean the quilter, drove. We always go out to breakfast after Co-op, then hit the library, and sometimes the quilt shop. It's our thing and I really enjoy it, but I started to fade in the library ... just wanted to sit down in one of the comfy chairs and read ... or sleep. We skipped the quilt shop and after I got home I did fall asleep on the couch. It's amazing that one crabby little nerve can turn my whole life upside down.

I have accomplished something, if not the vacuuming. I re-organizing my Pattern Maker files. Not all my designs are on PM, but many are. I got everything sorted over the past few days, and then started checking each design for errors and needed updates. There are currently over seventy-five designs, so that part of the process will be ongoing, but the major sub-dividing changes I wanted are done. It made me feel like I was almost back to normal, and less guilty for housecleaning at a snail's pace over the past few months. When I'm feeling out of sorts, tidying something, just about anything, makes me feel productive again. Reshuffling all those pattern files was a major job I've been putting off because it required sitting for long stretches. But, since that's currently my most comfortable position, it worked out perfectly!

I woke up the other morning with the image of a few bands of stitching and a design name in my head. I might have dreamt it, but I wrote it down and graphed it out as soon as I could. Such ideas evaporate if you don't capture them quickly. The whole design process flowed easily and I finished it this evening. Tomorrow I'll cut the linen, pull the floss and get started on it. It was an unexpected gift and I want to unwrap it! Come and see it on my other blog: http://embroiderbee.wordpress.com Search for it under the title, Oak Nut Madness. You may download the chart from the shared files widget on the right-hand side of the blog.

"Let the beauty we love be what we do." ~ Rumi

Goodnight!

Remy

Still Life: Niggy with Bullion Stitch

2009-03-08T22:38:00.004-04:00

Bullion Roses

2009-03-05T21:47:00.005-05:00

What a great stitch. I've been doodling with it on some pillowcases, making flowers here and
there. Amazing how well they hold up in the
wash.

I want to watch the Millionaire Matchmaker in a few minutes. Patty cracks me up. She could whip the economy into shape, no problem!

Then I want to read my Magnificat for today, and get to sleep at a reasonable time. I'm a night owl by nature, but it's amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you.

Thanks for stopping by, now get some sleep!

Things I like ... in no particular order

2009-03-05T21:24:00.008-05:00

My immediate family
Sweet red wine
Bread fresh from the oven
Almost any cheese
Needlework
Glass plates and dishes
Seashells
Cesar Millan ~ The Dog Whisperer
Wishing Stones
Pro Strong Nail Products
Dark, bittersweet chocolate
Coffee
Espresso
Quiet
Cats
Dogs
Drawing
Designing
Reading blogs
Miso
Turkey
Instrumental music
Interesting talks and lectures
Some of my relatives
My girlfriends
High thread count sheets & pillowcases
Great thin crust pizza
Beautiful churches
Spiritual friends
My studio
Peoples' life stories
Books I can get lost in
Quotations
Homeschooling
Worn blue jeans
Reading in bed
Snails
Salamanders
Good linen
Silk floss
Laughing
Writing
Doing funny creativity exercises ... like this
Blue-purple
Greeens
Babies
Air conditioning
SUVs
Hoodies
Baking
Cooking
Church when it's empty
Rain
Snow
Good haircuts
Nice eyes
Pride & Prejudice with Ehle & Firth
Dry senses of humor
Books
Bookcases
Libraries
Tacos
Houseplans
The Douay Rheims Bible in two parts, with all the great notes
Baby Green Onion sprouts
Cheesecake
Moist Banana Bread
Comfortable chairs
Computers, printers and peripherals in top shape
Nice neighbors

Things I Don't Like ... in no particular order

2009-03-05T20:40:00.010-05:00

Just for fun, but true nonetheless

Miscounting stitches
Knots in floss
Hangnails
Junk mail/spam
Passive-aggressive behavior
Red Meat
Excessive teasing
Owners of dogs who cannot control them ... who act as if to love animals means you let them do whatever they want. They need Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer.
Headaches
Deliberate non-communication
Liars
People who dislike homeschooling and haven't a clue about it
People spending my tax money on idiotic things
Clams and mussels
Celebrity worshipers
Loud noises
Anisette
Public bathrooms, no matter how clean
Low fiber content sheets
Really dry red wine
Performers in church
People yakking it up in church
Urgently competitive people
Bees (yes, and it's a long story)
Egg Salad
Calamari
Sushi
Sad movies
Scary movies
Housecleaning
Books with poorly written endings
Bad grammar
Dirty jokes
When I get a bad haircut
Some of my relatives
Bullies in any form
Itchy fabric
Bugs
People who walk their dogs and don't bring baggies
Sciatica
Academic snobs
Snobs in general
Dull scissors
Whining
Burned cookies
Gravity
Gaseous emanations
Parishoners who think they are clergy
Church music from the 60's to the present
Officiousity in all its many forms
Bird poop

Thread Surfing

2009-03-05T11:29:00.002-05:00

Dear Reader,

Bliss! Spent the early morning following a thread from one blog to another. There are so many wonderful ideas on the web ... I can feel my imagination waking up and stretching. We were always encouraged to go to shows and exhibitions as frequently as possible, but sometimes the local possibilities run thin. The internet somewhat makes up for that, especially for fiber artists. I can't fly to Australia or Colorado for a show, but I can surf there and scoop up some electronic crumbs, and that is sometimes enough to recharge me.

My WIPS and my Stash, they comfort me.
Remy,

Neon Green Grids and One of my Stitching Buds

2009-03-03T09:56:00.003-05:00

Dear Reader,

I'm stitching away on: (1) the neon green grid for Quaker Blues, (if this doesn't help, I've wasted a LOT of time), (2) the border on my BoInk, which is coming along nicely (3) a small band sampler design of my own, (4) the last band on my sampler for C. & K., and (5) my present for Jean. I'm rotating through this list and making steady progress, but it doesn't make for spectacular pictures!

Peanut, my stitching buddy, is far more spectacular! She and Niggy timeshare the cardboard box next to my computer. The youngest of our cats, she can sleep through anything, and she does. Even lifting up her little face for the camera does not interfere with her beauty rest. Her lovely green eyes remain determinedly shut!

STICKY 1993 - 2009 RIP

2009-03-02T11:59:00.005-05:00

Our sweet boy has passed away. Called Sticky for his constant presence, he was the most gentle and patient boy. Pre-deceased by his "twin", fellow Beige-Brother, Nova.
We'll miss you, buddy, and the garden will never be the same.
.
You are my cat and I am your human
~ Hilaire Belloc ~

True Friendship

2009-03-02T11:11:00.004-05:00

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are
      a good egg even though he knows 
      that you are slightly cracked."
           ~ Bernard Meltzer ~

Blogging is a Forget-Me-Not

2009-02-28T21:54:00.010-05:00

Blogging is like talking to myself, only with pictures.
~ Remy L.

Thank you for visiting!!!

2009-02-21T22:34:00.007-05:00

Ohhhhh, Thank you all for visiting! I'm amazed to see the countries represented by my counter! It's a freebie for two weeks and then I'll probably have to take it down because this isn't a commercial blog ... it's for fun!

But I just love seeing all the places you come from and I thank you so much for visiting!!

Remy

2009-01-20T10:12:00.004-05:00

Yes, I'm cute.
But I do not like having my picture taken.